Trail Overview
South Fork Palm Wash is an 8.8-mile point-to-point trail rated 3 of 10 within the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. South Fork Palm Wash extends from the Santa Rosa Mountains and flows eastward through the Truckhaven section of ABDSP and into the Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area to the Salton Sea. As the water flows down, it has created a slot canyon at the west end of the drivable trail. The trail is accessed either from Calcite Mine Road or from Palm Wash on the east end. South Fork Palm Wash is located within both the ABDSP and Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreational Area. The section within the ABDSP is restricted to street-legal vehicles. Don't expect to get cell phone service while in the wash. The nearest services are located in Borrego Springs to the west or Salton City to the east.
Difficulty
The trail consists of loose rocks, dirt, and sand with some slick rock surfaces and mud holes possible. No steps are higher than 12 inches. 4WD may be required, and aggressive tires are a plus.
History
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is a California State Park located within the Colorado Desert of southern California, United States. The park takes its name from 18th-century Spanish explorer Juan Bautista de Anza and the Spanish word borrego, which literally means "lamb" but is also used to describe the desert bighorn sheep. With nearly 600,000 acres, it is the largest state park in California as well as the 48 contiguous states. The park has varied topography that includes dry lake beds, badlands, and mountains that rise above 5,500 feet (1,675 meters). Two-thirds of the park's area is designated as wilderness, and cactus, yucca, and ocotillo are abundant throughout. Among the park's attractions are groves of California fan palms and a profusion of wildflowers that bloom in mid-to-late winter. Deer, kit foxes, iguanas, rattlesnakes, roadrunners, eagles, and the endangered desert bighorn sheep are all found within the park.
